Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines



(No Model.)

J-. A. ADAMS. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 448,888. Patented Dec. 80, 1890.

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rue NORRIS FETERS 00., Pum'mumm, WASNINGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT QEFICE,

JAMES A. ADAMS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,888, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed May 23, 1890. Serial No. 352,930- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES A. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Devices for Sewing- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to sewing-n1achines, and more particularly to improvement of the feeding devices thereof, the object being to simplify the construction and to reduce the frictional contact retarding the motion of the cloth, the details of construction whereby these ends are accomplished being hereinafter fully described, and the parts held to be new pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the device, showing the needlebar and presser-foot and the feeding device attached, and also the transparent glass shuttle-race plates. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectional view of the device on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, showing a plan view of the presser-foot carrying the dentated feeding-wheels and the lever and pawls, and a sectional view of the pitman. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the needle-bar, showing a form of catch for operating the lever. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification of the serrated wheel and actuating-lever, said lever being shown, however, only partially.

In the figures like reference-marks indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

A is the frame; 13, the needle-bar; c, the presser-foot carried on the usual bar G; D, the cloth or shuttle plate, and E the feeding device.

The feeding device E consists of one or more wheels 6, suitably milled, serrated, or dentated on its peripheral surface, journaled on or in the presser-foot, and having means for causing an intermittent rotary motion therein, which consists of mechanism which will now be described. A bifurcated lever c is f ulcru med at its lower end on the shaft or journal of the feed-wheel e and carries a pawl 6 pivoted in such a position as to engage with the dentated periphery of the said wheel 6, so as to partly rotate the same at. each upward movement of the lever, operated by means described later on. If desirable or necessary from the nature of the dentations on the feed wheel for said pawls to be firmly pressed into them, a spring may act on said pawls to that end. Fig. 4, as mentioned hereinbefore, shows a modification of the bifurcated lever and the feeding-wheel, in which ratchet-teeth e are formed on the side of the feeding-wheel, and the members of the bifurcated lever e have resilience to and from each other and carry a suitable lip c for the purpose of engaging with the said ratchet-teeth a The lever e is caused to oscillate on its fulcrum by means of connection by the pit-man 6 with the lever 6 which is pivoted to alip or lug e on the presserfoot. The connection of the pitman e to the lever e is made adjustable as to distance from the fulcrum-point of said lever in the lug e by means of a box or pivoted head 6 said box being held at any position desired by means of the set-screw 6 The lever e is operated by the needle-bar by means of the hook e thereon, it being returned to its normal position by the spring e, attached at some suitable point, the downward movement of the parts being suitably limited. In the specific construction shown this is accomplished by means of the contacting of the lower end of the pitman c with the presser-foot. The hook e may, if desired, be made in the form of a slot, the sole object of its open top being to prevent the necessity of the lever 6 moving through as large an are as would be necessary if it followed the needle-bar through its entire stroke.

WVith this device it is obvious that an effective engagement of the feed-wheel is had with a minimum amount of bearing thereon, inasmuch as the surface of the'feed-wheels will indent the cloth; also, that a hole only large enough to allow the passage of the needle is necessary in the cloth or shuttle plate. This said cloth or shuttle plate may consequently be made of glass and afford a minimum of resistance to the passage of the cloth, and also allow an examination of the shuttle and its operation at any time without a removal of the plates, and said plate will not be liable to wear or corrosion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a feeding device for sewing-machines, the combination of the presser-foot, the wheel (2, journaled in said presser-foot and having its periphery dentated, the lever c, fulcrumed on the shaft of the wheel 6 and carrying the pawl 6 engaging with the dentated periphery of the said wheel, and the means for operating said lever, consisting of the hook e on the needle-bar, the lever c pivoted at one end to the presser-foot and having its other end carried by said hook e and the pitman connecting the levers e and e, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a feeding device for sewingunachines,

the combination of the presse1'-foot,tl1e wheel 0, journaled in said presser-foot and having its periphery dentated, the lever c, f ulcrutned on the shaft of the wheel 6 and carrying a pawl 6 engaging with the dentated periphery of said wheel c, and means for operating said lever, consisting of the hook e on the needlebar, the lever e", pivoted at one end to the lug c of the presser-foot and the other end carried by the hook c and the pitrnan e adj ustably connected at its upper end with the lever e and at its lower end with the lever B, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. ADAMS. \Vitnesses:

S. M. W001), A. P. Woon. 

